Life – Christine Smith

Hello 2026 // Moving Forward

Post published:January 6, 2026
Post category:Life
Post comments:8 Comments

We have made it, friends. 2025 is behind us and 2026 is here, with endless possibilities ahead. And am I ready for the newness and fresh mercies. 2025 was one of the hardest years of my life. But as I mentioned in my last post, in so many ways, I can call it a good year. It was a year of stretching, and though growing pains are called that for a reason, they can't and shouldn't be avoided. Both 2024 and 2025 were years of growth and stretching, of falling down and getting back up again, of learning what's important,…

2025 in Review // Life, Stories, & Reflections

Post published:December 9, 2025
Post category:Encouragement Fangirling Life Reading Writing
Post comments:2 Comments

We are almost to the end of 2025. It has been a year of stretching, growing, losing dreams and finding them again, and ever seeing that no matter the darkness, God's light never dims. 2025 felt like a fever dream. Sometimes I can't believe we only have a few weeks left. Was January just yesterday? Was it an eternity ago? Somehow it feels like both. It's not been an easy year, and yet as we reach its end and I look back at all that has taken place, in my heart I can say it's been a good year. It's…

An Update: Finding Hope Again + Announcements

Post published:September 9, 2025
Post category:Encouragement Life Writing
Post comments:10 Comments

Hello, friends! It's been quite some time, but life has continued on. I hope you'll grab your favorite beverage of choice and settle in for a while as we catch up! I last posted in January. With the start of a new year came a word. REFRESHMENT. After a difficult 2024, I was in great need of refreshment and renewal, of rest and recovery. 2025 has been anything but refreshing. Life has been chaotic. Instead of my heart surgery getting me to a healthier place as I thought it would, my health has been worse than it ever has been.…

Hello 2025 // Seeking Refreshment

Post published:January 14, 2025
Post category:Life
Post comments:6 Comments

Happy 2025! We have made it. A blank canvas before us, fresh mercies, unknown journeys, and numerous adventures ahead. I love the start of a new year. There is something thrilling about a new number on that calendar and untold possibilities of the next 365 days. Something so freeing about a fresh start, new beginnings. And after a lot of roadblocks, discouragement, and exhaustion in 2024, watching as the number on the calendar switched truly felt like a victory. 2024 is done. 2025 is here. We made it. That's not to say I wish 2024 had not happened. For me,…

2024 in Review // Stories, Writing, Life, & Lessons

Post published:December 10, 2024
Post category:Encouragement Fangirling Life Reading
Post comments:12 Comments

2024. What a year it's been. I cannot claim it's been my favorite year. There have been a lot of hardships in these almost 12 months. But goodness has there been so much growth and blessings in all of it. The countdown to the end of 2024 is upon us, and as we're rapidly reaching 2025, I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the year. This year was one of stretching. Of finding contentment in the hardships, seeking peace in the storms, and being brave in each day. I cannot claim to have handled it all with grace and…

I live! // An Update, Know the Novel, & FicFrenzy

Post published:September 3, 2024
Post category:Life Writing
Post comments:20 Comments

Hey, friends! I do in fact LIVE. And I'm poking my head in from my hiatus for a little life update and to announce some exciting upcoming things. Whew. It's been quite the past couple of months. In my last post, I mentioned that I needed mitral valve replacement surgery. I am very happy to say that is over and done with! I had surgery on July 19th and have been recovering ever since. It wasn't all smooth sailing, but God was so good through it all. Strangely, the surgery itself was the easy part. I felt so much peace…

Mid-Year Update // Seasons, Rest, Surgery, and A Hiatus Notice

Post published:July 16, 2024
Post category:Life
Post comments:9 Comments

Happy July, friends! I am a bit (read: a lot) in shock that we are here at the halfway point of the year. But this seems like the perfect time to reflect on the year thus far and share some updates. 2024. Goodness, it is blazing by. So far it's been both a lovely year and a stressful one, but that's one thing I've been learning through this year: the most beautiful things are found in the hardships. So what has 2024 looked like thus far? It's been a creative one. After a writing break in December, my two co-writers…

Hello 2024 // Living Boldly

Post published:January 15, 2024
Post category:Life
Post comments:14 Comments

A most happy 2024!!! We've accomplished another year and have a brand new one with all manner of journeys ahead. That can be a little scary, definitely overwhelming, but also so very, very exciting. I will be honest, I didn't have the easiest December. Some deep insecurities that have been slowly rising to the surface burst out at the most inopportune time, life got stressful, and I struggled with one of the worst cases of creative block I've ever experienced. This eternal optimist who usually looks to the future with hope was having severe difficulty getting excited about anything. My…

2023 in Review // My Favorite Things, Writing Highlights, & Growth

Post published:December 4, 2023
Post category:Encouragement Fangirling Life Reading Writing
Post comments:9 Comments

2023—a year of unexpected blessings and reaching for new dreams and mourning losses and praising God for renewal and failing and learning and so very much growing. It was a year of life. And though some (read: many) days were hard, there were blessings in it all, and I am grateful for each day given. Somehow we have reached the final stretch of 2023 and I'm looking over at March like, "Weren't you just here?" But my word chosen to live by for 2023 was PRESENT. I tend to fly through my days, always looking ahead and never stopping to…

A Little Update + Hiatus Notice

Post published:July 24, 2023
Post category:Life Writing
Post comments:8 Comments

Hey, friends! It's been a while since I've talked about what's been going on in my corner of the world, so I thought I'd share a little (rambly) update today. Do settle in with your beverage of choice (I have coffee, surprise, surprise), and let's catch up! Life + Learning On the life-y side of things, there is nothing huge to report. Things have been fairly quiet, and yet feel busy at the same time? You know how life be. I've been anxiously awaiting fall because summer heat and I don't have the best relationship. At the same time, my…